Little Bears Day Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Little Bears Day Nursery Ltd Hill Farm House, 44 Old Groveway, Simpson, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK6 3AA

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

The provider has a vast awareness of different theoretical approaches to child development and a deep understanding about the benefit of different curriculum approaches. She accumulates these into a broad and well-balanced curriculum with a heavy focus on developing children's communication and language skills. Staff know the curriculum intentions and understand how to put this into practice. As a result, children generally benefit from rich experiences that boost their communication and language skills. Enjoying stories is crucial to children's learning. Babies bring adults story books showing their desire to be read to. Older children take immense joy in sharing books about things that interest them, such as dinosaurs. They talk with a great sense of authority, identifying the different types of dinosaurs and correctly pronouncing their names. Children talk about their favourite characters and can retell familiar poems, rhymes and stories.

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The provision is good

Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. They are quick to identify when children's development does not meet expectations and take immediate action to draw up support plans and access guidance from external professionals. Therefore, all children, including those with SEND, make good progress in their learning at the nursery.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is exceptional. They show a strong sense of belonging at the nursery. The nursery is warm, cosy and inviting. Staff create a homely feel, where children have their personal items, such as comforters and slippers, in baskets within easy reach when they need them.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum has a strong focus on encouraging children to learn outdoors. There is a wealth of exciting opportunities for children when they chose to be outdoors. Staff have made a beach inside the garden cabin. This follows on from some children saying they have never been on holiday and played on the beach. All ages of children enjoy playing in the cabin, digging and exploring and feeling the sensation of the sand on their skin. n The provider reviews and adapts the curriculum and environment to maintain children's interest. For example, in the pre-school room, children explore a very well-designed role-play area. Here, children act out their experiences and explore using real-life, familiar items. n Children concentrate and show excitement in their learning. They grow vegetables in the garden and harvest these, hoping to eat them. Children are disappointed when they find that slugs have eaten some of their vegetables.

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need to do better?

However, children learn about nature and decay through this experience. Staff provide fresh vegetables for older children to use to make soup. They eat the

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need to do better?

31 January 2024 soup at lunchtime, recalling what ingredients they used and building on their prior learning. n On occasion, older children become frustrated during activities. Staff are quick to respond and console them. However, staff do not encourage older children to reflect on their experiences to help prevent their feelings of frustration when things do not work out as they would like. n At lunchtime, children wait for their food. To promote children's good manners, they do not start eating until everyone has their meal. However, this means that some children wait for a relatively long time for their young age. During this time, some quieter children in the group are not encouraged to take part and join in group conversations. n The key-person relationships are effective in helping children to settle. Each morning, parents drop children off in their nursery room and talk to staff about how children have slept and how they are feeling. The exchange of information

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need to do better?

helps staff to find out ways that they can support children during the day. n Parents are placed at the heart of all children's experiences and valued by staff as partners in children's learning. Since the last inspection, the nursery has introduced new ways to exchange information with parents and this has been extremely successful in each understanding about children's experiences. Staff also discuss the benefits of sharing concise and immediate information with parents to help engage them in children's learning. n The provider reviews the work of staff, the environment and children's progress. As a result, she has a good oversight of all matters at the nursery. The provider is highly motivated and leads the staff team with professionalism and dedication.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n encourage opportunities for children to think critically about their learning n expand the curriculum focus during all times of the day, including when children are waiting at mealtimes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY226139 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10305188 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Little Bears Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01908 232832 Date of previous inspection 14 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Bears Day Nursery registered in 2002. It is situated in Simpson, Milton Keynes. It is open on weekdays from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery employs eight members of staff, seven of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications between level 3 and level 6. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector discussed the intent of the curriculum and observed its implementation during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the provider. n During the inspection, the inspector held a meeting with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the inspection. n Parents were invited to share their views with the inspector. Several parents discussed their views during the inspection and the inspector took account of all

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

31 January 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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